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[–] 22 points 1 year ago (3 children)

My most American belief is that society fell apart when we got rid of dueling. Assholes need the threat of violent retribution to contain their assholery, and without that, they just shit everywhere.

Of course, that belief falls apart the minute that you realize that assholes can be good at dueling, too…

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  • [–] 30 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    It also falls apart when dueling did not generally cross classes. If you were a rich guy your “defense of your honor” was either petty or eliminating competition, sometimes both. No poor person was going to take out a “rich asshole” by any other means than being charged with murder. The only violent retribution available to the masses is revolt accompanied by a guillotine.

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